They let the dogs out at California State University, Northridge on Wednesday, much to the delight of handlers, students, faculty and especially the working pooches.

The occasion was the second annual Meet the Dogs, a fundraiser to provide for the care and training of the campus’ K-9 corps, featuring police dogs from CSUN and seven other agencies.

Cpl. Tom Finnerty, who is in charge of the CSUN unit, narrated a display of techniques used in search and rescue, explosives detection and handler protection.

Finnerty, who has been a handler for 14 years, works with a German Shepherd named Isy and is training a Labrador retriever named Racker for explosives detection. He loves his work — and his canine partners. “It was just a passion of mine, especially after 911,” he said.

The event drew a crowd of about 50, with many students stopping by between classes.

Tristan Bruno, 19, a kinesiology major from Woodland Hills, was impressed both with the skill of the dogs and their demeanor.

I wouldn’t mind doing that,” he said as he watched the handlers put the dogs through their paces. “It’s pretty cool — I really liked it. They can do a lot. This (event) lets the public know the dogs are not monsters and wolves. They can be nice, too.”

CSUN and other agency dogs train in Ventura County on land donated by a local ranch owner, Finnerty said.

Mike Moran, a K-9 officer for the Cortez City Police Department in central Colorado who has been drilling with Otto, his German Shepherd, graduates from the five-week session on Friday.

“It’s good training,” said the former Marine. “It’s amazing what these dogs can do.”

After working with Otto for about two years, Moran said they are pretty much constant companions. “They are family dogs, but I wouldn’t call them pets,” he said of the four-legged officers. “They are friendly with the family once they get to know them.”